Help for these Rune Fonts: 

germanic runes	anglosaxon runes	dwarf runes	
Germanic Runes 	AngloSaxon Runes 	Dwarf Runes 	
germanic runes	anglosaxon runes	dwarf runes	
Germanic Runes-1	AngloSaxon Runes-1 	Dwarf Runes-1 	
germanic runes	anglosaxon runes	dwarf runes	
Germanic Runes-2 	AngloSaxon Runes-2 	Dwarf Runes-2	
 
Microsoft Windows/Truetype & Postscript format (Postscript fonts requires Adobe Type Manager)

©copyright – 1996-2004 - Daniel Steven Smith
Rune Fonts Help file v1.5

Table of Contents: 

	Copyright and Distribution Information
	A Brief History of Runes in Europe

	Language and Mode specific information: 
	Old Germanic Runes
	Anglo-Saxon Runes
	Dwarf Runes (Tolkien's Anglo-Saxon Runes)
	Tolkien's Runes in The Hobbit

	Using the Cirth Fonts: 
	Writing with these Rune Fonts
	Germanic Runes font keyboard mapping
	AngloSaxon Runes font keyboard mapping
	Dwarf Runes font keyboard mapping

Copyright and Distribution Information:

These fonts are the property of and copyrighted by Daniel Steven Smith, and are subject to this license agreement, which
you accept by installing and using these fonts.

Warranty: Although I have taken care to see that these fonts work on my PC, they are not guarantied to work on your PC.
Use them at your own risk.

Postcardware: These files are Postcardware. If you have installed these fonts, enjoy using them, and plan on using them in the future, please send me a postcard or letter (using an attractive or interesting stamp). My current postal address can be found at the bottom of my this read-me file. If you supply me with your email address, I'll try to write back.

Personal, Private or Non-Commercial Use:
One Postcard entitles you to use these fonts in perpetuity, on any machine that you personally own or control, and grants you the right to do the following:
•	You may use these fonts to produce images and graphics for any personal, private or non-commercial publication or product.
•	You may use these fonts to produce images and graphics for any personal, private or non-commercial web page.
•	You may alter or modify these fonts, or translate them into any other font formats for your personal use. (But you may not distribute a modified or translated font.)

Commercial Use:
One Postcard entitles you to use these fonts in perpetuity, on any machine that you personally own or control, and grants you the right to do the following:
•	You may use these fonts to produce images and graphics for any commercial publication or product.
•	You may use these fonts to produce images and graphics for any commercial web page, computer game or software application.
•	You may alter or modify these fonts, or translate them into any other font formats for your personal use. (But you may not distribute a modified or translated font without first notifying Daniel Steven Smith.)

Please notify Dan Smith if you do plan on using his fonts in any commercial product or publication. You're sure to get his
blessing, and he may be able to help you by ensuring that the fonts are used correctly. Also, if you do plan on making a huge amount of money from your commercial product or publication, please be kind and share some of it with Dan Smith.

Distribution: The fonts may be distributed by individuals, bulletin board systems, FTP sites, WWW sites, etc., without
restriction as long as:
•	No fee is charged for the font.
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•	No files are modified.
•	If distributed as part of a "shareware library"; that I receive a copy of every different disk or CD containing my fonts, to use or give away as I see fit.

For any uses not covered explicitly by this agreement, please contact me. 

(I am always grateful for acknowledgment of my fonts, especially if you send samples showing how you have used them.)

5Danyul2SEven2smiT5
(danyul [st][ee]ven smi[th] - written J.R.R.Tolkien's Dwarf Runes)

©copyright - 1999-2004 - Daniel Steven Smith

Daniel Steven Smith
12 Overlook Drive
Leominster, MA, USA
01453-5142

http://www.geocities.com/fontmaster.geo/

email = dan + {current year} @acondia.com

(Example: my email address in year 2004 is "dan2004@acondia.com")

A Brief History of Runes in Europe: 
 
Runic alphabets first appeared among Germanic tribes in central and eastern Europe during Roman times. Many of the Runic letters seem to have been borrowed from other alphabets, such as the Greek, the Etruscan, and the Early Roman alphabets.  Some of the Runes seem to be unique inventions.  The earliest Runic inscriptions on stone are dated to the late 2nd century AD, although it is probable that Runic Alphabets had been in use for some centuries before.

The Runes were a very practical alphabet and developed out of necessity.  Most adults in Roman-age Europe possessed knives of some sort, and wood carving was often a highly prized skill.  So creating an alphabet that could be easily carved with straight lines in wood (and later stone) was a natural development.  Most Runic inscriptions simply identified the ownership or burial site of someone or something, and were as distinct as the Rune-Master creating them.

Early in their history, the Runes had very few writing rules or conventions.  The Runes could be written right to left, left to right, or Boustrophedon (right to left on one line, left to right on the next, etc.).  During Europe's Dark Ages, as the Roman/Latin alphabet become more dominant, the Roman convention of left to right became the rule.  Also, early in their history, Runic letters were often reversed.  Runes and their mirror images always represented the same phonetic values.

The original Germanic Runic alphabet contained 24 letters.  The first six letters of the alphabet spell out the word "FUTHARK", which is often used when referring to the Runes.  Centuries later, people in Scandinavia began using the Runes.  They dropped some letters, simplified some characters and developed several custom Runic alphabets.  Sometime between 400 and 600 AD, three Germanic tribes (the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes) invaded Britain.  They brought the Runes with them.  Once in Britain, the Anglo-Saxon Runes were expanded to as many as 32 characters.  

By 800 AD the Runes were in use throughout much of western, central, and northern Europe.  The Vikings carried the Runes west with them to Iceland and Greenland.  Trade in eastern Europe spread the Runes into Hungary, Rumania, Poland, and parts of Russia.  In the centuries that followed, as most of Europe adopted the Christian faith, the Runes slowly fell out of favor, replaced by variations of the Roman/Latin alphabet.  One version of the Roman/Latin alphabet used in Anglo-Saxon England during the days before the Norman conquest contained some Runic letters, such as "þ" (thorn), based on the third letter of the Runic alphabet.  During the Middle-ages, as Christianity came to dominate Europe, fewer and fewer people were able to understand the Runes.  

Many non-Christian and pagan groups still continued to use the Runes, such as the followers of the Druid religion.  They were persecuted by the Christian authorities and their ways were demonized.  Unable to read the Runes, church leaders believed them to be magic spells capable of unlocking the powers of evil.  Since this time Runes have developed a bad reputation, and are often linked to the Occult and Satanism.  Earlier in this century, the Nazis in Germany employed the Runes in their military insignia and propaganda, furthering the sinister reputation of the Runes.  

On the bright side, J. R. R. Tolkien one variety of Anglo-Saxon Runes in his fantasy/adventure novel "The Hobbit".  Tolkien used the Runes on maps and for assorted graphics on the hard-cover editions of the book.  Tolkien used Runes to represent the writings of the Dwarves in his story.  The Dwarves actually used a different Runic alphabet (called the Cirth or the Angerthas).  Tolkien substituted the Cirth with the more familiar Anglo-Saxon Runes, just as he also substituted English for many of the languages of Middle-earth such as Westron.  

Today, most people interested in Runes fall into two categories.  Some are Historians studying pre-Christian European cultures and languages.  Or they may be medieval or fantasy RPG (Role Playing Game) players engaged in re-creating aspects of pre-Christian European cultures. 

Sources:
"Reading the Runes" 
by R. I. Page
University of California Press / British Museum
ISBN 0-520-06114-4	"The Hobbit" 
by J. R. R. Tolkien
Houghton-Mifflin
ISBN 0-395-28265-0	"The Return of the King", Appendix E
by J. R. R. Tolkien
Houghton-Mifflin
ISBN  0-395-27221-1	

Old Germanic Runes:
 
f	f		I	ï	
u	u / v		p	p	
T	th		z	z / r	
a	a		s	s	
r	r		t	t	
k	k		b	b	
g	g		e	e	
w	w		m	m	
h	h		l	l	
n	n		N	ng	
i	i		o	o	
j / J	j		d	d	
 
Primary documentary source: 
"Runes - Reading the Past" by R. I. Page
University of California Press / British Museum 
ISBN 0-520-06114-4 

Anglo-Saxon Runes:
 
f	f		t	t	
u	u / v		b	b	
T	th		e	e	
o	o		m	m	
r	r		l	l	
c	c		N	ng	
g	g		E	œ / ee	
w	w		d	d	
h	h		a	a	
n	n		A	æ	
i	i		y	y	
j	j		q	ea	
I	ï *		G	gh	
p	p		k	k	
z	x / z		K	kh	
s / S	s				
 
Primary documentary source: 
"Runes - Reading the Past" by R. I. Page
University of California Press / British Museum 
ISBN 0-520-06114-4 

Dwarf Runes:
 (Tolkien's Anglo-Saxon Runes)

f / F	f (*)		s	s	
u / U	u / v (*)		t	t	
T	th		S	st (*)	
o	oo / o		b	b	
r	r		e	e	
c	c		m	m	
g	g		l	l	
w	w		N	ng	
h	h		E	ee	
n	n		d / D	d	
i	i / j (*)		a / A / O	a / æ	
P / p	p (*)		y	y	
x	x (*)		q	ea (*)	
z	z (*)		k / K	k (*)	
figure 3	
 
Notes:
* - These characters (or variations of these characters) are used or described in the beginning of the Houghton Mifflin editions of "The Hobbit"
 
Source:
"The Hobbit" by J. R. R. Tolkien
Houghton-Mifflin
ISBN 0-395-28265-0

Tolkien's Runes in "The Hobbit": 

After the Runes came to Britain, many local variations developed.  J.R.R.Tolkien used one if these variations in his book "The Hobbit".  These Runic inscriptions appear on Thrain's map of Lonely Mountain.  Here are the two inscriptions with translation:
 
Right-side of Map Inscription:
	five		                   five	
	fEt1high		      f[ee]t    high	
	Te1dor1 an		[th]e    dor     an	
	d1TrE1 may		d  [th]r[ee]   may	
	wolk1abre		wolk           abre	
	    ast3		ast	
	1T1T1		           .[th].[th].	
 
Moon-Letter Inscription:
stanD1by1Te1grey1st		stand    by   [th]e   grey   st	
one1hwen1Te1Trush1kn		one  hwen  [th]e [th]rush kn	
ocks1anD1Te1settiN1s		ocks  and  [th]e  setti[ng]  s	
un1wiT1Te1lOst1light1		un   wi[th]   [th]e   last  light	
of1durins1dAy1will1sh		of    durins    day    will   sh	
ine1uPon1Te1keyhole1		ine   upon    [th]e    keyhole	
1T1		.[th].	
 
Why were the Dwarves using Anglo-Saxon Runes for these inscriptions instead of the Angerthas/Cirth Runes (described in The Return of the King, Appendix E) ?  

In order to write "The Hobbit", Tolkien had to developed a culture for the Dwarves.  The Dwarves were known for and prized their expertise in mining and their craftsmanship in wood, stone and metal-working.  Although they were equally skilled as calligraphers, employing most of the writing systems in Middle-earth, when writing for themselves, they preferred to a Runic style alphabet.  

I believe that Tolkien planned for the Dwarves to use a Runic alphabet unique to Middle-earth, but when "The Hobbit" was written (in 1937), he had not yet invented the Elvish Angerthas/Cirth Runic alphabet that the Dwarves would eventually come to use.  

In "The Hobbit", the words of the Hobbits, the Elves, the Goblins and the Dwarves are all translated into English.  Likewise the Runic inscriptions are written with the more familiar English or Anglo/Saxon Runes rather than the Elvish/Dwarvish Angerthas/Cirth Runes of Middle-earth.  
 
Sources:
"The Hobbit" 
by J. R. R. Tolkien
Houghton-Mifflin
ISBN 0-395-28265-0	"The Return of the King", Appendix E
by J. R. R. Tolkien
Houghton-Mifflin
ISBN  0-395-27221-1	

Using the Rune fonts:

The Rune fonts are easy to use.  I have attempted to create a logical keyboard layout.  Most Rune letters have been placed on the keys that match the phonetic value of the Rune.  For example: press "t" to get "t" (the "T" Rune) or press "n" to get "n" (the "N" Rune).  

Some Runes have no corresponding key, such as the "TH" or "NG" Rune.  In these cases I have tried to use a logical key-mapping for an English speaker:  For example: press "<shift>t" to get "T" (the "TH" Rune) or press "<shift>n" to get "N" (the "NG" Rune).  

Some keys are not assigned a Rune, such as the "q" key.  Some of these keys have been assigned Runes which can not be logically assigned, such as "q" (the "EA" Rune).  Please refer to the appropriate font key mapping page of this Help file.  

Anglo-Saxon … a[ng]glo-saxon … aNglo saxon … aNglo saxon 

Each Rune font also contains some five common "dot" marks, at keys "1" thru "5".  These characters are often used to separate words or sentences when writing with the Runes.  

Anglo-Saxon … a[ng]glo-saxon … 5aNglo2saxon5 … 5aNglo2saxon5 

The "...-1" and "...-2" Rune fonts contain characters with single and double over-bars and under-bars.  Since Runes are often written between parallel horizontal lines, these fonts allow you to reproduce those styles.  

5aNglo2saxon5  or  5aNglo2saxon5

(Tip: sometimes the gaps between the horizontal bars are visible.  If this happens, select the text and reduce the character spacing.  In Microsoft Word 6.0 this is done by clicking on the "Format" drop-down menu, selecting the "Font…" item, and picking the "Character Spacing" tab.  Condensing the spacing of the selected text 0.3 to 0.5 pt should do the trick!)  

The "...-1" and "...-2" Rune fonts also contain four extra characters, at keys: [, ], \ and |.  These extra characters are used in combination with the over-bars and under-bars, and can create interesting graphic effects.  

 [aNglo\saxon] … [aNglo\saxon] 

 \aNglo|saxon\ … \aNglo|saxon\ 

 \123\aNglo\saxon\321\ … \123\aNglo\saxon\321\ 

Germanic Runes fonts keyboard mapping:
 
All of the letters and symbols are available on the normal keyboard keys.
 
The "Germanic Runes" font:
 
Lower Case:
``	11	22	33	44	55	66	77	88	99	00	--	==	\\	
	qq	ww	ee	rr	tt	yy	uu	ii	oo	pp	[[	]]	
	aa	ss	dd	ff	gg	hh	jj	kk	ll	;;	''	
	zz	xx	cc	vv	bb	nn	mm	,,	..	//	
 
Upper Case (shift):
~~	!!	@@	##	$$	%%	^^	&&	**	((	))	__	++	||	
	QQ	WW	EE	RR	TT	YY	UU	II	OO	PP	{{	}}	
	AA	SS	DD	FF	GG	HH	JJ	KK	LL	::	""	
	ZZ	XX	CC	VV	BB	NN	MM	<<	>>	??	

 
The "Germanic Runes-1" font:
 
Lower Case:
``	11	22	33	44	55	66	77	88	99	00	--	==	\\	
	qq	ww	ee	rr	tt	yy	uu	ii	oo	pp	[[	]]	
	aa	ss	dd	ff	gg	hh	jj	kk	ll	;;	''	
	zz	xx	cc	vv	bb	nn	mm	,,	..	//	
 
Upper Case (shift):
~~	!!	@@	##	$$	%%	^^	&&	**	((	))	__	++	||	
	QQ	WW	EE	RR	TT	YY	UU	II	OO	PP	{{	}}	
	AA	SS	DD	FF	GG	HH	JJ	KK	LL	::	""	
	ZZ	XX	CC	VV	BB	NN	MM	<<	>>	??	

The "Germanic Runes-2" font:
 
Lower Case:
``	11	22	33	44	55	66	77	88	99	00	--	==	\\	
	qq	ww	ee	rr	tt	yy	uu	ii	oo	pp	[[	]]	
	aa	ss	dd	ff	gg	hh	jj	kk	ll	;;	''	
	zz	xx	cc	vv	bb	nn	mm	,,	..	//	
 
Upper Case (shift):
~~	!!	@@	##	$$	%%	^^	&&	**	((	))	__	++	||	
	QQ	WW	EE	RR	TT	YY	UU	II	OO	PP	{{	}}	
	AA	SS	DD	FF	GG	HH	JJ	KK	LL	::	""	
	ZZ	XX	CC	VV	BB	NN	MM	<<	>>	??	

AngloSaxon Runes fonts keyboard mapping:
 
All of the letters and symbols are available on the normal keyboard keys.
 
The "AngloSaxon Runes" font:
 
Lower Case:
``	11	22	33	44	55	66	77	88	99	00	--	==	\\	
	qq	ww	ee	rr	tt	yy	uu	ii	oo	pp	[[	]]	
	aa	ss	dd	ff	gg	hh	jj	kk	ll	;;	''	
	zz	xx	cc	vv	bb	nn	mm	,,	..	//	
 
Upper Case (shift):
~~	!!	@@	##	$$	%%	^^	&&	**	((	))	__	++	||	
	QQ	WW	EE	RR	TT	YY	UU	II	OO	PP	{{	}}	
	AA	SS	DD	FF	GG	HH	JJ	KK	LL	::	""	
	ZZ	XX	CC	VV	BB	NN	MM	<<	>>	??	

 
The "AngloSaxon Runes-1" font:
 
Lower Case:
``	11	22	33	44	55	66	77	88	99	00	--	==	\\	
	qq	ww	ee	rr	tt	yy	uu	ii	oo	pp	[[	]]	
	aa	ss	dd	ff	gg	hh	jj	kk	ll	;;	''	
	zz	xx	cc	vv	bb	nn	mm	,,	..	//	
 
Upper Case (shift):
~~	!!	@@	##	$$	%%	^^	&&	**	((	))	__	++	||	
	QQ	WW	EE	RR	TT	YY	UU	II	OO	PP	{{	}}	
	AA	SS	DD	FF	GG	HH	JJ	KK	LL	::	""	
	ZZ	XX	CC	VV	BB	NN	MM	<<	>>	??	

The "AngloSaxon Runes-2" font:
 
Lower Case:
``	11	22	33	44	55	66	77	88	99	00	--	==	\\	
	qq	ww	ee	rr	tt	yy	uu	ii	oo	pp	[[	]]	
	aa	ss	dd	ff	gg	hh	jj	kk	ll	;;	''	
	zz	xx	cc	vv	bb	nn	mm	,,	..	//	
 
Upper Case (shift):
~~	!!	@@	##	$$	%%	^^	&&	**	((	))	__	++	||	
	QQ	WW	EE	RR	TT	YY	UU	II	OO	PP	{{	}}	
	AA	SS	DD	FF	GG	HH	JJ	KK	LL	::	""	
	ZZ	XX	CC	VV	BB	NN	MM	<<	>>	??	

Dwarf Runes fonts keyboard mapping:
 
All of the letters and symbols are available on the normal keyboard keys.
 
The "Dwarf Runes" font:
 
Lower Case:
``	11	22	33	44	55	66	77	88	99	00	--	==	\\	
	qq	ww	ee	rr	tt	yy	uu	ii	oo	pp	[[	]]	
	aa	ss	dd	ff	gg	hh	jj	kk	ll	;;	''	
	zz	xx	cc	vv	bb	nn	mm	,,	..	//	
 
Upper Case (shift):
~~	!!	@@	##	$$	%%	^^	&&	**	((	))	__	++	||	
	QQ	WW	EE	RR	TT	YY	UU	II	OO	PP	{{	}}	
	AA	SS	DD	FF	GG	HH	JJ	KK	LL	::	""	
	ZZ	XX	CC	VV	BB	NN	MM	<<	>>	??	

 
The "Dwarf Runes-1" font:
 
Lower Case:
``	11	22	33	44	55	66	77	88	99	00	--	==	\\	
	qq	ww	ee	rr	tt	yy	uu	ii	oo	pp	[[	]]	
	aa	ss	dd	ff	gg	hh	jj	kk	ll	;;	''	
	zz	xx	cc	vv	bb	nn	mm	,,	..	//	
 
Upper Case (shift):
~~	!!	@@	##	$$	%%	^^	&&	**	((	))	__	++	||	
	QQ	WW	EE	RR	TT	YY	UU	II	OO	PP	{{	}}	
	AA	SS	DD	FF	GG	HH	JJ	KK	LL	::	""	
	ZZ	XX	CC	VV	BB	NN	MM	<<	>>	??	

The "Dwarf Runes-2" font:
 
Lower Case:
``	11	22	33	44	55	66	77	88	99	00	--	==	\\	
	qq	ww	ee	rr	tt	yy	uu	ii	oo	pp	[[	]]	
	aa	ss	dd	ff	gg	hh	jj	kk	ll	;;	''	
	zz	xx	cc	vv	bb	nn	mm	,,	..	//	
 
Upper Case (shift):
~~	!!	@@	##	$$	%%	^^	&&	**	((	))	__	++	||	
	QQ	WW	EE	RR	TT	YY	UU	II	OO	PP	{{	}}	
	AA	SS	DD	FF	GG	HH	JJ	KK	LL	::	""	
	ZZ	XX	CC	VV	BB	NN	MM	<<	>>	??